Definition of "determinant" [de•ter•mi•nant]

• Determinative. (adjective)
• An influencing or determining element or factor: "Education is the second most important determinant of recreational participation” ( John P. Robinson). (noun)
• Mathematics The value that is computed from a square matrix of numbers by a rule of combining products of the matrix entries and that characterizes the solvablitity of simultaneous linear equations. Its absolute value can be interpreted as an area or volume. (noun)
• Immunology An epitope. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "On a larger scale, this determinant is about the strength of the economy and its ability to provide good jobs, a decent standard of living and universal social and health benefits."
• "The conclusion is that the huge degree of inequality when it comes to income distribution is the main determinant of the poverty in the country."
• "At a given level of GDP, the main determinant of the trade deficit is the value of the dollar in international currency markets."